Following in Famous Footsteps… Celebrities who’ve been Best Man

Thursday, November 20th, 2008 at 6:26 am

The honor of being best man is often bestowed upon the celebrity shoulders of famous stars from the world’s of music and film, today we look at 4 of those famous best men. You would imagine that nerves would not be a problem for them as they are so used to speaking in front of large audiences but you’d never know as best man speeches can test the most professional of speakers.

Michael Jackson

Though now divorced Liza Minnelli and David Gest’s best man on their wedding day was none other than Michael Jackson. His best man speech might have been a “thriller” but then again it could have been “bad” either way it would have been fascinating to hear.

Adam Clayton

In 1982 when Bono was a little-known singer in a new Irish rock group U2, he married his childhood sweetheart Ali in a ceremony in Dublin. When choosing a best man, Bono found what he was looking for in the shape of U2 bass player Adam Clayton. U2 became one of the world’s most successful rock groups while Bono and Ali remain one of music’s most endearing couples.

Stephen Fry

The English comedian and actor Stephen Fry deserves special mention as he was best man at the weddings of two famous celebrities Hugh Laurie in 1989 and Rowan Atkinson in 1990. I’m sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the “house” at Hugh Laurie’s wedding and doubt that there were any “beans” on the menu at Rowan Atkinson’s wedding.

Robert De Niro

When his son chose to get married he kept it a family affair by asking his father, the legend of the silver screen, Robert De Niro, to be his best man. I bet there was nobody brave enough to heckle him during his best man speech, however if anyone did the response may well have been “you talkin’ to me?”

Whether you are famous or not, it doesn’t really matter as long as you prepare your speech in advance, ensure that your best man jokes, and your opening lines are researched, enabling you to give the speech that a famous actor or pop star would be proud of.